Johann Muller (rugby player)

Johann Muller

Personal information
Full name	Gysbert Johannes Muller
Date of birth	1 June 1980
Place of birth	Mossel Bay, South Africa
Height	2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)
Weight	112 kg (247 lb; 17 st 9 lb)
School	Buffelsfontein Primary Oakdale Agricultural College
Club information
Position	Lock
Current club	Ulster
Youth representative teams
Years Team Apps (points) 1999 South Africa U19
Super Rugby **
Provincial sides 2001–10 2010–14 Sharks (Currie Cup) Ulster 38 73 (5) Super Rugby 2002–10 Sharks 82 (10)
Representative teams**
2006–11 South Africa 24 (0)
** Representative team caps and points correct as of 30 November 2012.

Gysbert Johannes Muller, more commonly known as Johann Muller (born 6 January 1980 in Mossel Bay, South Africa), is a South African former rugby union player. Muller played as a lock for the Sharks (Currie Cup), Sharks in (Super Rugby) and the his country's national side Springboks, before he moved to Northern Ireland to play with Ulster in 2010, where became team captain, before retiring at the end of the 2013–14 season.

Career

Muller made his debut for the Springboks against Scotland in 2006 at ABSA Stadium. He would then earn a further 5 caps, 4 of which being as a member of the starting 15. Muller made his provincial debut in 2001 and his Super 14 debut the following year. Muller was selected into the Springboks squad for the 2007 home tests and the 2007 Tri Nations on the basis of a strong 2007 Super 14 performance.

2007 Tri Nations

During the latter part of the competition, Springbok coach Jake White decided to rest his top players from touring Australia and New Zealand.^[1] White stated that the players that were taken on this tour would be playing for places in the Springboks 2007 Rugby World Cup squad. Muller was included in the squad chosen to tour.

He was named captain in the match against the All Blacks on 14 July 2007 after original tour captain Bob Skinstad was injured in the match against the Wallabies. Muller performed well in both matches. He was then rewarded with a place in the squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Ulster Rugby

Johann Muller joined Ulster Rugby in 2010, where his solid performances saw him selected as the captain of the team. Though his regular game-time was diminishing due to the more regular onset of injury, he brought to the table his organisation skills and leadership. On 7 February 2014, it was announced that Johann Muller would retire at the end of the season.^[2]

References

1. Linden, Julian (2007-06-27). "Tri Nations in jeopardy". Yahoo!Xtra. Retrieved 2007-06-27.
2. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/johann-muller-raised-the-bar-but-it-was-time-to-go-29988005.html

External links

• "SA Rugby Player Profile – Johann Muller". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
• Sharks profile